AMTRA.com.au

Whats the legal & TAC rules about buying a helmet in the USA and using it here in Australia

Ron

That you cannot. No AS approval. Even if same same helmet.

If noticed, you can be fined on road. Will not accept in competition. For TAC - may result in reduction of LOE entitlement due to contributory action, but would need to be head injury related.

Ron I have purchased a Shoei and a Arai from the states and I got helmets that cost around $1000.00 here for around $5 to $600us delevered. my figuring is if I use the best its got to be better than the average here and if it helps me survive then bugger the TAC, I would rather be alive than dead. Just my thoughts anyway. Will

The choice is yours buy something that meets australian standards or save a couple of dollars now and run the risk of being illegal, fined, uncovered for insurance, sued by anyone else who crashes into you (because you were riding illegally) and sent broke if it all turns to poo.

No choice really....

So you would rather wear a $50 helmet cause it has a silver sticker over wearing a $1000 helmet thats exceeds every world standard cause it does not have a silver sticker' ???

There is a clause in the regs somewhere for the use of a helmet that meets other international standards, that are equal to or exceed our own. Snell M2005 for example.
And ease up Paul.

Go have a look in places like AMX. They sell superceded stock at prices close to the US and they have the helmets there to try on. It really is worth trying the helmet on before buying as it needs to fit your head. I have tried helmets that people rave about and they just do not fit me and get uncomfortable.

Aus standard requires continued testing to maintain approval, which makes it more expensive to bring helmets in. For low quantity it also can make helmets too expensive to compete in the market place.

Test standard also has some unique tests, even if of questionable merit, so that a helmet certified to DOT US cannot be rubber stamped for AS. It is further complicated by the DOT allowing such helmets as the half shell pudding bowl, which means that not all DOT helmets would pass AS requirements.

Snell is an independent standard and testing body, it sets requirements that in many areas are higher than the AS or DOT. So it is worth paying more for something with Snell approval as well as AS approval.

From a safety perspective the same helmet from the US is the same helmet as the Aus import, but that was not the question. Is it as good - yes, but is it legal to use on road - no.

As a no fault system TAC would still cover medical but having a non approved helmet could impact your Loss of Earnings cover.

Mat.

One thing i would like to see when buying a helmet is the report of the test..

If its got the sticker thats great but how do we know how much better the helmets are ..?
are we paying for the name? the paint job?

Wouldn't it be good if they had star ratings like cars say 3 stars is the standard minimum pass for the sticker and they work up from there  i think it would justify the costs of some of the helmets... Maybe even improve the standards..

But adding a rating on the helmets would mean a governing body to inforce and test the ratings and then we the consumer would end up paying for it in the price of the helmet...

My 2 cents   ;D

For any insurance claim or similar to be rejected, they would need to prove that the helmet somehow contributed to the crash or injury. Having said that, insurance companies will try anything to get out of paying any serious claim.

I always look for helmets that meet the top snell standards.

If you are going to purchase a helmet from overseas Ron then go to the bike shops and try the helmet on which you want to buy and work out the size and which one you want then buy. I can recomend two or three suppliers overthere so if you want to go that way let me know and I will give you there details. Will

I have a '09 Fox V3 helmet i use for trail riding which i got from the states ($243au instead of around $450au).  Obviously it doesn't have the Aus Standards sticker but seeing as less than 1% of my riding is actually on a road i don't think it matters, particularly for the savings and the fact it has the snell 2005 sticker.
I have just ordered a '09 V2 ($120au instead of $250au - postage cost me $60us but i did order a tyre, pressure suit and gloves to go with it) for racing from the states and as long as it meets the Snell 2005 standard then it's fine to use for racing here.  If you wanna be sure then just check out the MA handbook.
The mob i use at the moment is http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/home.do Check out their closeout items as there are some dead set bargains there.

Cheers,

MM.